The 2016-17 Predictions

The NHL's biggest news heading into the 2016-17 season was its approval of the expansion bid made by Bill Foley from Las Vegas, adding a 31st team to the NHL for the 2017-18 season. There were a pile of celebrations planned for 2017 as the NHL began its year-long celebration of its 100th season of operation, but nothing that would affect any season predictions that a certain publication will make. There were four outdoor games planned that saw two of them feature three Canadian teams as the Jets and Oilers met in Winnipeg at the 2016 Heritage Classic while the Maple Leafs joined the Red Wings for 100th Anniversary game on January 1 at BMO Field. There were no major rule changes for the first time in while, so let's get into those predictions. How did the The Hockey News do this season? Let's find out!

Before we dig into these predictions, did anyone put money down that The Hockey News would use the exact same players with the exact same question - "Playoffs?" - for the second straight year? Gaudreau and McDavid get a second season of trying to restore some sort of respectability for the Alberta-based NHL teams as THN forces more Alberta down the throats of everyone on the prairies. This is now getting to be Maple Leafs-level sickening in terms of the Toronto-based publication choosing cover players. Be better, THN. Much better.

Divisional standings are still in play, so we'll do another year of all-or-nothing for placement within those standings - either you're right or wrong here, THN - for a total of 30 points. Playoff teams, denoted by THN, will be worth 0.5 points if they made the playoffs that season for a chance at 8 total points. In saying that, I'll also add four points for division winners and four points for the right wild card teams (assuming those teams are in the right standings positions) for 8 more points. And there will be 2 points available for the Stanley Cup champion and finalist prediction - all-or-nothing - for a total of 48 points.

Here are the standings predictions as per The Hockey News.

I took some creative liberties in chopping up the picture.

STANDINGS

The final Metropolitan Division standings in 2017 in the NHL are listed first with The Hockey News' predicted team to finish in that same spot listed second. Playoff teams are listed in capital letters for each side.

1. WASHINGTON (NHL) vs. WASHINGTON (THN)
2. PITTSBURGH vs. PITTSBURGH
3. COLUMBUS vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS
4. NEW YORK RANGERS vs. PHILADELPHIA
5. New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers
6. Philadelphia vs. Columbus
7. Carolina vs. Carolina
8. New Jersey vs. New Jersey

THN had four of eight teams in the right spots for 4/8 points.

The Atlantic Division follows the same scoring.

1. MONTREAL (NHL) vs. TAMPA BAY (THN)
2. OTTAWA vs. FLORIDA
3. BOSTON vs. MONTREAL
4. TORONTO vs. BOSTON
5. Tampa Bay vs. Detroit
6. Florida vs. Buffalo
7. Detroit vs. Ottawa
8. Buffalo vs. Toronto

THN had none of the eight teams in the right spot for 0/8 points here. We can now see the full playoff picture, and it would appear that THN had four of eight playoff teams correctly identified for 2/4 points. They had Washington as a division winner for 1/2, but missed on both wild card teams for 0/2 there. All totaled, the Eastern Conference predictions scored THN a final score of 9/24.

The Pacific Division follows the same scoring.

1. ANAHEIM (NHL) vs. SAN JOSE (THN)
2. EDMONTON vs. ANAHEIM
3. SAN JOSE vs. LOS ANGELES
4. CALGARY vs. CALGARY
5. Los Angeles vs. Edmonton
6. Arizona vs. Arizona
7. Vancouver vs. Vancouver

THN had three teams in the right spot for 3/7 points.

The Central Division follows the same scoring.

1. CHICAGO (NHL) vs. DALLAS (THN)
2. MINNESOTA vs. NASHVILLE
3. ST. LOUIS vs. ST. LOUIS
4. NASHVILLE vs. CHICAGO
5. Winnipeg vs. Winnipeg
6. Dallas vs. Minnesota
7. Colorado vs. Colorado

THN had three of the seven teams in the right spot for 3/7 points here. We can now see the full playoff picture, and it would appear that THN had six of eight playoff teams correctly predicted for 3/4 points. They had neither division winner right for a 0/2 score, but they did have Calgary as a wild card team for 1/2 there as well. All totaled, the Western Conference predictions scored THN a final score of 10/22.

STANLEY CUP WINNER

After Matt Larkin took a big swing and missed on both the champion and finalist last year, Ryan Kennedy returns after calling the correct champion and finalist back in the 2015 Yearbook. Could he do it again as he tosses two more teams out as the choice for The Hockey News as to who will play in the final game of the season? Let's see what happened.

• TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING WILL DEFEAT THE DALLAS STARS TO WIN THE STANLEY CUP. Except they didn't as the 2017 Pittsburgh Penguins used six games to eliminate the Nashville Predators to win the Stanley Cup. Had this been 2020, Kennedy would have been spot-on once more, but it's 2017 and both his choices - Tampa Bay and Dallas - not only didn't make the final, but neither team made the playoffs! Kennedy has a swift fall from grace this year.

THN continues with their normal 0/2 score in this prediction as neither team even made the dance for the Stanley Cup.

The Hockey News made a slight improvement this season as they scored 19 out of 48 possible points for a 39.6% accuracy. They stay above 30% in the prediction accuracy once more, but would have cost you some money in Vegas once again as they weren't even close to having the right winner and finalist. Stop using The Hockey News for betting on the Stanley Cup champion. I cannot be more clear about that.

We'll see how future seasons play out with these predictions and if THN can continue improve next season as we move forward chronologically!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!